Telephone-cabinet.



G. W. LANCASTER.

TELEPHONE CABINET. APPLICATION FILED MAR. s, 1911.

Patented May 7, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

G. W. LANCASTER.

TELEPHONE CABINET.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3, 1911.

Patented May 7, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

m z 0 Z m p W l v 4 @wornegs COLUMBIA PLANOGRAI'II CO" WASHINGTON, D- C.

G. W. LANCASTER.

TELEPHONE CABINET.

APPLICATION FILED MAE. a, 1911.

Patentd May 7, 1912.

3 SHBETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STAZF S PIENT OFFICE.

GEORGE WASHINGTON LANCASTER, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA. I

TELEPHONE-CABINET.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE WASHINGTON LANCASTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Telephone-Cabinets; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the ame.

This invention relates to improvements in telephone cabinets, and has for an object the arrangement of improved means for permitting a person to use a telephone at any desired place without having the conversation overhead.

A further object of the invention is the arrangement of an improved cabinet de signed to receive the head of a person and have the door thereof closed, which will automatically raise the telephone hook for connecting the telephone with the central station, the receiver and the transmitter being arranged to be positioned properly for coming opposite the ear and mouth respectively of the person using the device without any change or movement by the operator.

Another object of the invention is the arrangement of a telephone cabinet designed to receive an ordinary receiver and transmitter, the cabinet being formed with moving structures which will normally hold the receiver hook lowered while the door of the cabinet is open, and at the same time hold the receiver at a convenient point opposite the ear of the person using the cabinet, so that when the door of the cabinet is shut the operating parts of the cabinet will move away from the receiver hook for permitting the hook to rise and connect the transmitter with the central station.

With these and other objects in view the invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the invention with the dotted position thereof shown for illustrating the use of the same with a desk. Fig. 2 is a section through Fig. 5 on line X X, the same being shown on a reduced scale. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 3, 1911.

Patented May 7 1912.

Serial No. 612,114.

vertical central section through a cabinet embodying certain features of the invention. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the principal operating parts, the same being shown removed from the housing. Fig. 5 is a section through Fig. 1 approximately on line 55. Fig. 6 is a section through Fig. 3 approximately 011 line 66 looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the cam member. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view through Fig. 3 on line 88.

In constructing a telephone cabinet embodying'the invention a housing is provided. made from any desired material, preferably some good quality of wood, and is also preferably formed with a window on each side, together with a little shelf on the enterior for receiving a note tablet. The cabinet is also formed preferably with a pair of sliding doors which normally remain open, but which are closed by the pulling of a cord or other desired means when the cabinet is in use. It will, of course, be evident that a single door could be used if desired. Arranged in the housing of the cabinet are means for supporting an ordinary telephone receiver and transmitter with the receiver held constantly off the hook, the hook being held normally down by a pivotally mounted member. A releasing lever structure is provided for raising the lever or bar which normally holds the telephone hook down, the same being operated by a cam structure on one of the doors of the housing when the doors are closed, so that the telephone will be automatically connected with the central station when the doors are closed. If it is desired to leave the doors open and yet use the telephone the releasing lever may be operated manually and a hook moved thereover for holding the same against a reverse movement. Also .a manually operated reciprocating rod is provided connected with a bell crank lever for raising the lever or member which normally holds the telephone hook down so that three methods or ways are provided for use of the cabinet, two of which necessitate the manual operating of the device, and one of which operates automatically. By manually operating the device in either of the manners set forth the device may be used either with the persons head placed in the housing of the cabinet, or may be used in the usual manner 011 the closed an arrangement of a cabinet and its support in association with the desk, and disclosing in dotted lines how the cabinet may be moved over to any desired point near the desk. It will also be evident that the cabinet may be used when a person is standing, and may be accommodated to persons of varying heights by moving the cabinet forward and backward until the desired height is reached.

Cabinet 2 is formed of a housing 4 having windows 5 on each side so as to give a. free view of the surroundings. A tablet shelf 6 is connected with the exterior of the housing 4 near one of the windows 5 for permitting notes to be taken down for use in any desired way. The housing 4 is provided with a pair of doors 7 and 8 which are slidingly mounted in ways 9 and 10. A cord 11 is connected with the doors and passed over suitable pulleys for closing the doors when the cord is pulled. If desired a knob 12 may be provided for the cord and the cord hooked over a fastening member 13 for holding the door closed when it is desired to use the hand operating cord. If only a single door is used of course the cord 11 will be slightly differently arranged for operating the same. The cord 11 is designed to close the doors while springs 14 and 1.5 open the doors and normally hold the same open. Connected with door 7 is a sliding cam 16 which is held in place on the door by suitable screw members 17 and 18 which preferably are screwed directly into the door and are arranged to hold the cam 16 in proper position for engaging the end of releasing lever 19. Cam 16 is preferably stamped out from sheet metal, and provided with cam surface 20 and slots 21 and 22 in which screws 17 and 18 operate. It will be understood, of course, that screws 17 and 18 are stationary in respect to the door, and the cam member 16 is permitted a free sliding movement for practically the full distance of the slots 21 and 22. A plate 23 is rigidly secured to door 7 for forming a good bearing surface for the cam 16. Cam 16 is formed with a depending hook member 24 which will engage the lever 19 and limit any further movement of the door 7 if cam 16 has been moved to its extreme position, but if not moved to its extreme position the door will be permitted a continued movement until it reaches its extreme position which will cause the cam to press down on lever 19 for lowering the outer end of lever 19 and raising the inner end thereof which carries lug 25. Connected with door 7 is also a stop or pin 32 which is designed to strike against the hook member 33 -and move the same until disengaged from lever 19. The hook member 33 is designed to be manually placed over the end of lever 19 after the same has been depressed in order to hold lug 25 in a raised position, and consequently to hold the inverted substantially U-shaped member 34 raised. This, of course, will allow the telephone hook to remain in a raised position and the line connected with the central station. The hook 33 may. of course, be disengaged manually at any time from lever 19, but is automatically dis engaged therefrom whenever door 7 is shut as pin 32 will strike against the hook member and will move the same.

If desired a single door may be used for housing 2, but preferably there are arranged doc-rs 7 and 8 (Fig. 5) which are preferably held in place by having grooves 35 formed therein into which beads 36 fit. Beads 36 project from suitable cross members connected with the top of housing 2. In order to positively close the doors 7 and 8 cords 37 and 38 are connected to the facing edges of the doors 7 and 8 and extend over a central pulley the position of which is indicated at 39, Fig. 5. From pulley 39 the cords merge into a single cord 11 and extend along over door 8, and from thence over pulley 41. The cord 11 preferably has also connected therewith a hand held or knob 12 which is designed to engage catch 13 when the cord 11 is placed over the catch though any other desired means may be provided for holding the cord, or the cord may be held by the hand of the operator. However, the cord must be held positively because as soon as the same is released springs 14 and 15 will immediately return the doors to their normal open position, as shown in Fig. 5. Of course, if desired the doors could be normally held closed by the springs, and the cord used to open the same temporarily, while the operator is placing his headin the device, after which the telephone could be connected by the operation of rod 45. Rod 45 (Figs. 5 and 8) extends through notch 46 in the side of housing 2, and is designed to engage said side in notch 47. Rod 45 is pivotally mounted at 48 to a bell crank lever 49 which in turn is pivotally mounted at 50 to guiding bracket 51. Bell crank lever 49 is designed to engage the pivotally mounted arm 52 for raising the same whenever rod 45 is forced inward. In operation rod 45 is forced inward until notch 47 slips over the side of housing 4. This will give a sufficient movement of bell crank on brackets 58 and 59.

lever 49 to raise arm 52 sufficiently for causing the inverted U-shaped member or hook retaining bracket 84- toraise to an elevated position for permitting the ordinary hook of the telephone to raise and connect the telephone with the central station. Arm 52 is pivotally mounted at 53 to a suitable support 54 connected with the top of the cabinet 2 and extends from bracket 54 through a. slot in guiding bracket 51 and is bent at right angles for a short distance so as to extend substantially horizontal, and then is bent so as to extend vertically. To the vertical portion of arm 52 is secured a hook re ceiving bracket 34. Lever 19 is pivotally mounted on bracket 55 and is bent upward and has connected with its upper end lug 25. Opposite the end to which lug 25 is connected the lever 19 passes through a guiding member 56 and is made of sufficient length so as to properly engage cam surface 20, and also to engage sliding hook locking member 83 whenever desired. Rigidly secured to lever 52 is a bar 57 to which are secured screw supporting brackets 58 and 59 on which rests the ordinary receiver of a telephone. In order to prevent any accidental displacement of the receiver from brackets 58 and 59 spring clips 60 and 61 are provided which are formed so as to snugly fit bar 57 and to resiliently fit around the receiver. These brackets will prevent any accidental displacement of the receiver, but will readily permit the receiver to be manually removed or replaced.

In forming housing 4 the bottom of the same is made with an offset portion 62 for receiving the telephone strand and causing the mouth piece thereof to come opposite the mouth of the operator when the ear of the operator comes opposite the receiver placed The bottom of housing 4 is also formed with a cut out neck opening 63 which is preferably padded with some kind of fabric 64 and is also preferably arranged about centrally of the hous ing 4, though, of course, this location is not absolutely necessary. In order to properly accommodate doors 7 and 8 when both are used suitable ways or auxiliary housings 65 and 66 are provided and connected rigidly with the housing 4 so as to thoroughly pr tect and cause a proper operation of the respective doors. If only a single door is used the opening 63 is preferably moved to near one side of the housing 4, and the arm 52 and lever 19 and associated parts are correspondingly moved over so as to.permit the single door to operate without the addition of both members 65 and 66.

In order that the cabinet 2 may be properly supported a supporting structure 3 is provided upon which the cabinet is pivotally mounted. This supporting structure is formed with a supporting arm 67 and guiding rod 68, which arm and rod are held in place by any suitable means, the same not forming any part of the present invention.

The supporting arm 67 and the rod or arm 68 are arranged for properly supporting cabinet 2 in any desired position, namely, in a perfectly vertical position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, or in the dotted posit-ion shown in Fig. 1, or in any intermediate position. By this structure'the telephone may be readily used by a person sitting at desk 1 without moving from his place, or may be used by a person standing up. Also it will be evident that by moving the cabinet toward or from the operator the height of the cabinet may be varied for ad commodating persons of varying heights, and also by the arrangement of the pivotal mounting of the cabinet the same may be caused to point in any direction, and may be moved in any desired direction without in any way affecting the efficiency or proper operation of the device.

What I claim is:

1. In a telephone cabinet, a housing formed wit-h a neck opening, a door for closing the housing at one side of the neck opening, means for normally holding the hook of a telephone in its lowered position, and cam means carried by said door for operating said first mentioned means for raising the same 01f the hook of the telephone when the door is closed.

2. In a telephone cabinet, a housing formed with a neck opening, a door for 010s ing the housing at one side of the neck opening, supporting means for holding a telephone instrument in said housing, a bar pivotally mounted at one end and at the other end pressing downward on the telephone hook of said telephone instrument for normally holding the instrument disconnected, a pivotally mounted bar engaging said first mentioned bar and adapted to raise said first mentioned bar when one end is depressed, and means automatically actuated by said door for depressing said last mentioned bar when said door is closed.

8. In a telephone cabinet, a housing designed to receive a telephone instrument comprising a receiver and a transmitter, a pivotally mounted arm for supporting said receiver and arranged so that one end will rest on the hook of said telephone transmitter, a bar contacting with said arm for moving the same off of said hook, a door for said housing, and means associated with said door for automatically operating said lever when said door is closed for causing the lever to raise said arm off of said hook.

4. In a telephone cabinet, a housing adapted to receive a telephone instrument, a pivotally mounted arm arranged with one end in engagement with the hook of the telephone instrument for normally holding the hook in a lowered position, a pivotally mounted bar in engagement with said arm for raising the arm off of said hook, a door for said housing, and means associated with said door and operated thereby for automatically moving said lever when said door is closed.

5. In a telephone cabinet, a housing for receiving a telephone instrument, an arm pivotally connected at one end with said housing and at the other end loosely resting on the hook of said telephone instrument, means supported by said arm for holding the receiver of said telephone instrument whereby the weight of said receiver and said arm will normally hold said hook in its lowered position, a pivotally mounted lever contacting at one end with said arm for raising the same when the lever is moved, and means for moving said lever.

6. In a telephone cabinet, a housing adapted to accommodate a telephone instrument, a bar pivotally supported at one end arranged so that the end opposite said pivotal support will rest against the hook of said telephone instrument for normally holding the same depressed, a bifurcated member for guiding said arm in its movement, a bar for lifting said arm from off said telephone hook, said bar being pivoted intermediate its length and arranged to raise said arm upon the downward pivotal movement of one end thereof, a reciprocating cam arranged to engage and depress one end of said pivotally mounted lever, means for guiding said cam in its movement, and means including a door for said housing for actuating said cam.

7. In a telephone cabinet, a housing adapted to receive a telephone instrument, said housing being formed with a neck opening, a plurality of doors arranged to close said neck opening, means for manually closing said doors, means for automatically opening said doors, an arm resting on the hook of said telephone instrument, a pivotally mounted member arranged to raise said arm off of said telephone instrument when moved in one direction, and means associated with one of said doors for moving said pivotally mounted member for raising said arm oif of said telephone hook.

8. In a telephone cabinet, a housing adapted to receive a telephone instrument, said housing being formed with a neck opening, a door for closing said neck opening, manually operated means for closing said door, a spring for automatically opening said door when said manually operated means has been released, a cam connected with said door, an arm arranged to have one end rest on the hook of said telephone instrument for normally holding said hook in its lowered position, and means operable by said cam when the door is being closed for raising said arm off said telephone hook.

9. In a telephone cabinet, a housing arranged to receive a telephone instrument, said housing being formed with a neck opening, a sliding door arranged to close said neck opening, a sliding cam arranged on said door, an arm resting on the hook of the telephone instrument mounted in said housing, and means operable by said sliding cam for raising said arm off said telephone hook when said door is closed.

10. In a telephone cabinet, a housing formed with a neck opening and adapted to receive a telephone instrument, a door for closing said neck opening, a pivotally mounted arm arranged so that one end will normally rest on the hook of said telephone instrument for holding said hook in its lowered position, means mounted on said arm for supporting the receiver of said telephone instrument, a pivotally mounted bar adapted to raise said arm off of said telephone hook when the bar is actuated, and a cam connected with said door for actuating said bar.

11. In a telephone cabinet, a housing formed with a neck opening, said housing being adapted to contain a telephone instrument, a pivotally mounted arm arranged so that one end will rest on the hook of said telephone instrument, a pivotally mounted bar arranged to engage said arm and raise the arm off of said hook when the bar is actuated, a cam for actuatin said bar, a door for closing said neck opening and at the same time actuating said cam, means for operating said door, and a sliding locking hook designed to engage said pivotally mounted bar for causing the same to hold said pivotally mounted arm off of said hook after said door has been moved to an open position.

12. In a telephone cabinet, a housing formed with a neck opening, said housing being adapted to contain a telephone instrument, a pivotally mounted bar arranged so that one end will rest on the hook of said telephone instrument for normally holding said hook in its lowered position, a pivotally mounted bar adapted to raise said pivotally mounted arm off said hook when the bar is actuated, means for actuating said bar, a

hook for locking said bar against movement, after having been actuated for continuously holding said pivotally mounted arm off of said hook, a door adapted to close said neck opening, means for moving said door to a position for closing said neck opening, and

a pin projecting from said door arranged to strike said locking hook for moving the same off of said lever, and a cam member arranged on said door for preventing a reverse movement of said bar until said door has been opened.

13. In a telephone cabinet, a housing formed with a neck opening, said housing being designed to accommodate a telephone instrument, a pivotally mounted arm arranged so that one end will rest on the hook of said telephone instrument for holding the same in a lowered position, a bell crank lever arranged so that one end Will engage said arm, and a reciprocating bar for actuating said lever for raising said lever ofi of said telephone hook.

14. In a telephone cabinet, a housing adapted to accommodate a telephone instrument, said housing being formed with a neck opening and a doorway, a sliding door for closing said doorway, means for moving said door to an open position, means for moving said door to a closed position, a pivotally mounted arm arranged with one end resting on the hook of said telephone instrument, means for supporting and clamping a receiver to said telephone instrument on said arm, a pivotal bar for lifting said arm ofi' said telehpone hook, and a cam connected with said door for actuating said arm whenever said door is closed.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE WASHINGTON LANCASTER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. 

